Member InterviewsAPA Member Interview: Will Gamrat

APA Member Interview: Will Gamrat

Will Gamrat is a second year Ph.D. student at University of Illinois-Chicago. His primary research interests are in the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of language. He is also interested in the history of analytic philosophy.

What excites you about philosophy?

I think the most exciting thing about philosophy is its conversational aspect. Most of my favorite experiences doing philosophy have happened somewhere in the middle of a conversation. I like to think in a similar way about what excites me about reading historical texts. Having the opportunity to talk with other people about their interests and ideas is invigorating for me (both ‘in’ and ‘outside’ philosophy).

What time of day are you most productive and creative? 

Probably in the early morning. I’m not what I’d call a ‘morning person’, but I do get up early. Having time, while it’s still quiet, to go slowly over what I’m thinking about/working on/reading is a way of being productive that really works for me. Sometimes, I get a nice jolt in the early afternoon.

What are you working on right now? 

I’m working on a few different things. My main project right now is working toward a topical paper in preparation for the dissertation stage of the program here at UIC.  Broadly, I’m interested in a question something like: what are concepts for? That question, I think, touches on a cluster of issues surrounding demonstrative thought, identity/individuation, and (unsurprisingly) concepts/conceptual thought.  I’m currently trying to narrow my focus there. Also, I’ve recently become interested in what those issues look like from a relationist perspective (of the sort argued for in Kit Fine’s book, Semantic Relationism). Related to that, I’m also working on a paper which tries to articulate what’s essential to that view given what’s been said about it since it was first published.

What do you like to do outside work?

I enjoy cooking. In particular, trying out new dinner recipes for my partner (Lily) and I. I also like spending time outdoors. Usually, that happens on walks with Lily and our dog, Louise. She’s a senior chihuahua mix and she’s great.

What are you reading right now?  Would you recommend it?

Right now, I’m reading The Three Body Problem by Liu Cixin. I would definitely recommend it. It’s science fiction which, I think, raises interesting questions about the status of human existence against a backdrop of politics, virtual reality, and physics.

What books are currently on your ‘to read’ list? 

This list is embarrassingly long. Here are some non-work related books I’ve been meaning to read: Hunger by Knut Hamsun, Flights by Olga Tokarczuk, and The Idiot by Dostoevsky.

What would your childhood self say if someone told you that you would grow up to be a philosopher? 

He’d probably say, ‘what’s that?’. I really had no idea that you could be a philosopher when you grew up until around the time I was 18 or 19. As it turns out, I had been interested in philosophy, in some sense, for a while by that time.

This section of the APA Blog is designed to get to know our fellow philosophers a little better. We’re including profiles of APA members that spotlight what captures their interest not only inside the office, but also outside of it. We’d love for you to be a part of it, so please contact us via the interview nomination form here to nominate yourself or a friend. 

Dr. Sabrina D. MisirHiralall is an editor at the Blog of the APA who currently teaches philosophy, religion, and education courses solely online for Montclair State University, Three Rivers Community College, and St. John’s University.

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